Centering device.



G. W. NBEDHAM.

Patnted July 22, 1913.

2 SHEET 8 G. W. NEEDHAM. GENTERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1912.

- Patented July 22,1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

GEORGE W. NEEDHAIVI, OF GRAND RIVER, IOWA.

CENTERING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1913.

Application filed August 24, 1912. Serial No. 716,927.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, GEORGE W. NEEDI-IAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand River, in the county of Decatur and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centering Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in centering gages, the object of the invention being to provide an instrument of this character which will readily ascertain the center of the diameter or given space and will insure perfect accuracy in its determinations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will possess advantages in points of efficiency and durability, is inexpensive to manufacture and at the same time is simple in construction and operation.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved gage. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 38 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4t is a similar view on the line 4: .t of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of one of the gage shoes. Fig. 6 is a perspective view thereof. Fig. 'l' is a detail perspective view of one of the rods hereinafter specifically described, and Figs. 8 and 9 are detail perspective views.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 indicates the main body bar which is preferably cylindrical in cross section and slidably mounted upon each end thereof are the carriages 2. Formed integral with the carriages and arranged therebeneath are the cylindrical bearings 3 in which are mounted the rods 1 which are provided upon their inner end with upwardly extending elongated guide pins 5 which are slidably mounted within the longitudinal recess 6 formed in the lower face of the body bar 1. Secured to the inner ends of the rods l are the cutting rollers 7 which are adapted to run upon the side edges of the work to prevent longitudinal movement of the body.

Formed integral with the hearings on the under side thereof and extending therefrom are the jaws 8 which, when the device is operated are adapted to engage upon opposite sides of the work to guide the device.

The longitudinal rods 4: which are slidably mounted within the bearings 3 are held in an adjusted position by means of the set screws 9. Ext-ending upwardly from the body of the carriages 2 is an elongated extension 10 upon which is mounted the members 11 having the handles 12 formed at the outer ends thereof. Formed integral with the members 11 are the ears 13, said ears being arranged in pairs upon each of the members 11 and in spaced relation to each other. Pivotally secured to the ears upon the inner ends of the members 11 are the levers 1 1, the upper ends of which extend beyond the center of the device as shown at 15. Pivotally secured to the ears upon the outer ends of the members 11 are the levers 16 which extend upwardly and are pivot-ally secured to the ends of the levers 14, said levers being so arranged that one of the levers 16 is pivotally secured to the upper end of the lever 14 carried by the member 11 upon the opposite end of the frame.

Mounted upon the central portion of the main body bar 1 is a sleeve 17 which is held securely in place by means of the cross pins 18. Formed integral with the sleeve upon the upper side thereof is a transverse member 19, the intermediate portion of which is provided with an opening 20. Formed integral with the outer ends of the member 19 and extending upwardly therefrom and arranged in a vertical position are the rods 21 upon which are slidably mounted the sleeves 22 formed integral with which are the blocks 23 provided with transverse openings 24-. Set screws 25 are carried by the sleeves 22 and are adapted to hold the same in various adjusted positions. Pivo-tally secured to the inner face of the blocks are the inner ends of the outwardly extending curved arms 26, the outer ends of said arms being pivotally mounted upon the transverse cross pins 27 carried by the levers 16. Mounted upon the outer ends of the pins 27 are the rollers 28 upon which the ends of the flat springs 29 are mounted, t-heintermediate portion of said spring being arranged in the transverse openings 24 of the blocks 23. These springs 29 are adapted to keep the work in line and also keep the upright sliding blocks rigid. As clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the sleeve ,17 carries, between the pins 18, a set screw 18 for holding the center cutter in position.

Arranged within the openings 20 is a pin 30 the vlower end of which is bifurcated as shown at 31 to form two spaced arms between which are rotatably mounted a cutting roller 32. In using my improved device as a center gage, place the device upon the work with the jaws 8 upon both sides thereof and the roller 32 will register the center no matter of what shape'the work may be. It will be understood that the pin 30 and roller 32 may be replaced by a pencil, if desired, as shown in Fig. 8.

In using the device as a panel gage, the frame is opened as wide'as desired and locked by means of the set screws 25, the panel gage shoe 33 is then secured to one of the jaws 8 by means of the set screw 34:, upon the panel gage. The extension rod 35 is then connected to the outer end of one of the rollers 24 by means of the reduced threaded end 36 being threaded into the opening 37 and in this manner the cutting roller 7 upon the inner end of the rod 4 can be set at any width desired. It will be noticed that the carriages 2 are adjustable upon the body bar 1 and can bealways kept in line with the center by means of the pins 5 which are disposed within the recess 6.

In using the device as a mortise gage place the jaws 8 upon each side of the work so that the center will register thereon, the said rollers 7 are then set for any width of mortise which is desired.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be readily apparent that I have provided a simple and durable centering gage which is extremely simple in construction and can be manufactured at a low cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be obvious that variouschanges in thedetails of construction and in the proportions may be resorted to for successfully carrying my invention into practice without sacrificing any of the novel features or departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a body bar, carriages slidably mounted upon each end thereof, cutting rollers carried by said carriages, a marker secured to the center of said body bar and links pivotally connecting said carriages so that they will move simultaneously toward and away from the center marker.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a body bar, carriages slidably mounted upon each end thereof, cutting rollers carried by said carriages, guiding jaws carried by said carriages, a

marker secured to the center of said body bar and links pivotally connecting said carriages so that they will move simultaneously toward and away from the center marker.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a body bar, carriages slidably mounted upon each end thereof, a marker secured to the center of said body bar, guiding jaws carried by said carriages, levers having one end pivotally secured to the carriages and their other ends extending upwardly and beyond the center of the body bar, a second set of levers having one of their ends pivotally secured to the carriages and their other ends terminating short of the center of the body bar and pivotally connected to the ends of the first levers connecting the carriages so that they will move simultaneously toward and away from the center marker. 7

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a body bar, carriages slidably mounted upon each end thereof, a marker secured to the center of said body bar, guiding jaws carried by said carriages, levers having one of their ends pivotally secured to the carriages and their other ends extending upwardly and beyond the center of the body bar, a second set of levers having one of their ends pivotally secured to the carriages and their other ends terminating short ofthe center of the body bar, and pivotally secured to the ends of the first levers connecting the carriages so that they will move simultaneously toward and away from the center of the body bar, a collar secured to the center of the body bar, guide rods extending upwardly from said collar and formed integral therewith, pivotally mounted arms slidably mounted upon said guide rods and extending outwardly from both sides thereof, the outer ends of said arms being pivotally connected to the second set of levers, and means carried by said arms adapted to hold the inner ends of the same rigid with respect to the guide rods.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a body bar, carriages slidably mounted upon each end thereof, a marker securedto the center of said body bar, guiding jaws carried by said carriages, levers having one of their ends pivotally secured to the carriages and their other ends extending upwardly and beyond the center of the body bar, a second set of levers having one of their ends pivotally secured to the carriages and their other ends terminating short of the center of the body, and pivotally secured to the ends of the first levers and connecting the carriages so that they will move simultaneously toward and away from the center marker. a collar secured to the center of the body bar, upwardly extending guide rods formed integral with said collar, sleeves slidably mounted upon said rods, blocks formed integral with said sleeves and provided with transverse openings, arms pivotally secured at their inner ends to the inner face of the blocks and having their outer ends curved upwardly and pivotally secured to the second set of levers and fiat springs having their intermediate portions arranged in said transverse openings and having their ends 10 bearing upon the pivot pins which secure the arms to the second set of levers.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. NEEDHAM. Witnesses:

J. W. CHANDLER,

S. A. Wnsr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

